astro.wikisort.org - Asteroid

(480808) 1994 XL₁ is a sub-kilometer asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Aten group, approximately 200 meters (700 feet) in diameter. It was discovered on 6 December 1994, by Scottish–Australian astronomer Robert McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.[1] It was one of the first asteroids discovered to have a semi-major axis less than Venus.^{[citation needed]}

(480808) 1994 XL₁

Discovery[1][2]
Discovered by	R. H. McNaught
Discovery site	Siding Spring Obs.
Discovery date	6 December 1994
Designations
MPC designation	(480808) 1994 XL1
Alternative designations	1994 XL1
Minor planet category	NEO · Aten · PHA[1][3]
Orbital characteristics[3]
Epoch 30 January 2013 (JD 2456322.5)
Uncertainty parameter 0
Observation arc	21.99 yr (8,033 days)
Aphelion	1.0240 AU
Perihelion	0.3178 AU
Semi-major axis	0.6709 AU
Eccentricity	0.5263
Orbital period (sidereal)	0.55 yr (201 days)
Mean anomaly	205.64°
Mean motion	1° 47m 36.96s / day
Inclination	28.167°
Longitude of ascending node	252.68°
Argument of perihelion	356.54°
Earth MOID	0.0365 AU · 14.2 LD
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	0.2 km (est. at 0.20)[4]
Absolute magnitude (H)	20.9[3]

Orbit and classification

1994 XL₁ orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.3–1.0 AU once every 0 years and 7 months (201 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.53 and an inclination of 28° with respect to the ecliptic.[3] No precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made. The body's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation.[1]

Close encounter

The asteroid has an Earth minimum orbital intersection distance of 0.0365 AU (5,460,000 km), which translates into 14.2 lunar distances.[3] It passed 0.03709 AU (5,550,000 km) from Earth on 6 December 1994.[5] On 4 December 2044, it will pass again at 0.03637 AU (5,440,000 km) from Earth.[5]

Physical characteristics

1994 XL₁ has not been observed by any of the space-based surveys such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite IRAS, the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission. Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, 1994 XL₁ measures approximately 0.2 kilometers in diameter assuming an albedo of 0.20, which is a typical value for stony S-type asteroids.[4]

As of 2017, no rotational lightcurve of this object has been obtained. The body's rotation period, shape and poles remain unknown.[6]

Naming and numbering

After its first observation in 1994, this minor planet was numbered 23 year later by the Minor Planet Center on 12 January 2017 (M.P.C. 112958),[7]^: 698 after its last observation with the LCO–A 1-meter global telescope station at Sutherland, South Africa, on 6 December 2016 (K91). As of 2018, the asteroid has not been named .[1][3]

References

External links

• Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB), query form (info Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine)
• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books
• Asteroids and comets rotation curves, CdR – Observatoire de Genève, Raoul Behrend
• (480808) 1994 XL1 at NeoDyS-2, Near Earth Objects—Dynamic Site
  • Ephemeris · Obs prediction · Orbital info · MOID · Proper elements · Obs info · Close · Physical info · NEOCC
• (480808) 1994 XL1 at ESA–space situational awareness
  • Ephemerides · Observations · Orbit · Physical Properties · Summary
• (480808) 1994 XL1 at the JPL Small-Body Database
  • Close approach · Discovery · Ephemeris · Orbit diagram · Orbital elements · Physical parameters

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